Review by Felix on March 31, 2025.

More or less exactly 20 years ago, I began to lose interest in Destruction. It made me sad and angry that the heroes of my almost wild and nearly relentless youth had mutated into a formation that produced more and more sterile albums with comparatively modern thrash. The downfall started quickly after the glorious comeback in 2000. The Antichrist, aha, Metal Discharge, well, Inventor Of Evil… come on! One good song per album and a lot of interchangeable compositions. The boring Thrash Anthems compilation with its two new, lame tracks hit the last nails in the coffin. Good night, Schmier, Mike and sidekicks. I learned to live without the nerve-shattering high-pitched screams. From time to time I returned with mixed emotions to single songs like "Invincible Force", "Machinery Of Lies" or "Reject Emotions". Tempi passati!

I can no longer name the exact date when I suddenly started to miss the band, barely noticeably at first, but then more and more. I began to have a look at their new videos and – what shall I say – the process culminated in the purchase of Birth Of Malice. It's amazing. The energy, the enthusiasm, the conviction – everything seems to be back. Of course, one cannot expect a new Infernal Overkill. Destruction act more variable than I expected and the whole material sounds naturally much more mature than their very early works. Moreover, the voluminous production offers a completely different listening experience than their almost antique releases. But this is not only because of the brutal yet transparent mix, the band also dishes up more mid-tempo sections and sometimes they shoot off a real stomper. Even with only one German left in the line-up, they are able to sound very Teutonic, haha. Seen from this perspective, there was actually no reason to cover "Fast As A Shark" – and to be honest, regardless of the perspective this number is absolutely unnecessary. All of us have heard its original version a hundred times in the past and it works in the context of the early eighties as a shocking trailblazer of the following speed metal explosion. But it cannot have a similar effect in 2025, that's simply the truth.

It doesn't matter. Birth Of Malice has more than enough own, brand new material that invites the listener to a proper air guitar session. The pounding up-tempo number "Dealer Of Death" scores with its historic lyrics (the Nazis are back in town) and its energetic parts full of dynamic and pressure, for example the bridge and the part after the chorus. The guitars are drilling into my brain, while Schmier denounces the "chemical romance". By the way, it's a good thing you don't tap the letters on the keyboard with your head, because mine just took off on its own and went into an unstoppable headbanging session. The last thing I realize is that "Dealer Of Death" sounds absolutely fantastic. And while this track is like a spearhead that comes nearer and nearer, the band anthem (which opens the album after the title track intro) attacks across a broad front. Fat, powerful mid-tempo guitars roll over the listener, before the song accelerates velocity. These self-referential lyrics are nothing new in metal, but the youthful strength that the song emanates has a stirring effect. The perfect flow, the absolute coherence and the thunderous authenticity make this future classic to something special and to a worthy opener. But we may not forget its direct neighbour called "Cyber Warfare". If Distillator would not have turned into Cryptosis, this could be new song from the Dutch trio. The restlessly buzzing guitar lines and the simple yet pinpoint chorus as well as the high intensity of this number make it to another highlight of the full-length.

These three songs make a massive, destructive statement, but the best is yet to come. They are surrounded by seven further pretty great tracks. The sawing guitars of the stoically pounding "A.N.G.S.T." create an uncomfortable feeling, "No Kings – No Masters" hails the old Bay Area school due to its high velocity and the edgy guitars. The howling six strings at the beginning of "God Of Gore" announce another sharp neckbreaker, "Scumbag Human Race" can rely on its rebellious vitality and its mean chorus. In view of these high class thrash bullets, it is no big problem that the songs after "Dealer Of Death" have to struggle to meet the formidable previous quality level, but at least the sinister "Greed" holds some very great, menacing guitar leads. So at the end of the day, each and every track sounds tight and a lot of them make clear why the word malice appears in the name of the full-length. Okay, if I want to be really petty, I could say that only Schmier's robust vocals reflect the DNA of Destruction on this album, while everything else is very good, but not very individual at the same time. Anyway, I am not in the mood to seek the fly in the ointment. Birth Of Malice is a fantastic album. No buts, no ifs. I have no explanation, but all German pioneers seem to have access to a hidden source of energy that revitalized their tired bodies and weak spirits. Accu§er's "Rebirthless": great. Grave Digger's "Bone Collector": great. Only the comeback works of Living Death, Violent Force, Iron Angel*, Atlain, Brainfever and roughly 50 more bands are missing. Until these legends return, I will listen to Birth Of Malice. Thrash metal. Again and again.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

*An hour after publishing this review, I heard about the death of Iron Angel lead singer Dirk Schröder. R.I.P., vocalist of the eternally phenomenal "Hellish Crossfire".